“This is how it’s done,” remarked Los Angeles City Planning Commissioner Renee Dake Wilson in reference to La Veranda, a new mixed-use affordable housing community in Boyle Heights. The development, created in partnership with the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro), recently achieved unanimous city planning commission approval.

La Veranda is a $39.9 million modern mixed-use development featuring 77 affordable homes and amenity-rich programing with 21,602 sf of open space. The development features a resident center; multipurpose room; outdoor fitness space with jogging path; play structure; community garden; amphitheater; outdoor courtyards; secured bicycle parking; and 8,000 sf of community-serving retail. City Planning Commissioner Dana Perlman, remarked, “I think this is a fantastic project. I wish we saw more market-rate projects with this kind of design.”

La Veranda’s design and programming were guided by an extensive community outreach process that included meetings with the Los Angeles Mayor’s Office, Boyle Heights Neighborhood Council members and the Office of Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda Solis and nearly 400 Boyle Heights community members that participated in affordable housing workshops, focus groups, and other events. This resulted in deepened affordability through the two-fold increase of 30% AMI units up to 20% of total units, as well as programming the commercial space to include a community bank and expansion space for local, community-based businesses and organizations.

This service-enhanced affordable housing community is situated in the historic neighborhood of Boyle Heights on Metro surplus land and boasts long-term affordability to families earning between 30% and 60% Area Median Income via a 66-year ground lease from Metro to Abode Communities.

La Veranda is expected to begin construction in fall 2018 and complete in spring 2020.